Tomorrow, Monday 20 March 2017, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Dan Plato, will officially award accreditation to four new Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) structures in the Southern Cape, Mossel Bay and George.

The four new Neighbourhood Watch structures in George (Blanco NHW), and Mossel Bay (Heiderand-, Bo-Dorp- and Lower-Town NHW) are the first recipients of official accreditation status under the Western Cape Community Safety Act since the final regulations pertaining to the act came into effect last year.

All the NHWs will receive their accreditation certificate and a Starter Kit, containing reflective vests, torches, safety whistles, first aid kits, fire extinguisher, strobe lights and magnetic decals for vehicles, stickers and a lockable container.

The new accredited NHW will also be eligible for additional training provided by the Department of Community Safety or our safety partners, on top of the basic NHW training and first aid training they are receiving already.

Minister Plato will welcome the accredited Neighbourhood Watches as a dedicated safety partner to the community, municipality and provincial government. Safety is everyone’s responsibility and the willingness of active residents to assist us in creating safer environments in our communities are appreciated, celebrated and necessary in our ongoing attempts to support the police in both crime fighting and crime prevention activities.